The Boy's Playbook of Science: Including the Various Manipulations and Arrangements of Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus Required for the Successful Performance of Scientific Experiments : in Illustration of the Elementary Branches of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy

This was the FIRST written description of "Pepper's Ghost " is named after John Henry Pepper, a professor of chemistry at the London Polytechnic Institute in the mid-1800s. While Henry Dircks actually invented the effect, calling it "Dircksian Phantasmagoria," it was Pepper who is remembered for publishing the effect and making it practical for use in theaters. It was the amazing special effect of its day and was featured in theatrical productions of Charles Dicken's "Haunted Man" and "A Christmas Carol." It contains numerous experiments using Chemistry and Physics that can be performed as magical entertainment.

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Page 351 - ... thus with the year Seasons return, but not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; But cloud instead, and ever-during dark Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair Presented with a universal blank Of Nature's works to me expunged and rased, And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.

Page 92 - I presently found that, by means of this lens, air was expelled from it very readily. Having got about three or four times as much as the bulk of my materials, I admitted water to it, and found that it was not imbibed by it. But what surprised me more than I can well express, was that a candle burned in this air with a remarkably vigorous flame...

Page 425 - I intend, in many cases, to employ the expansive force of steam to press on the pistons, or whatever may be used instead of them, in the same manner as the pressure of the atmosphere is now employed in common fire engines. In cases where cold water cannot be had in plenty, the engines may be wrought by this force of steam only, by discharging the steam into the open air, after it has done its office.

Page 255 - To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess.

Page 425 - Vessel, must, during the whole time the engine is at work, be kept as hot as the steam that enters it; first, by enclosing it in a case of wood, or any other materials that transmit heat slowly; secondly, by surrounding it with steam, or other heated bodies; and, thirdly, by suffering neither water, nor any other substance colder than the steam, to enter or touch it during that time.

Page 11 - Law of gravitation: Every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force varying directly as the product of their masses and inversely as the square of the distance between them.

Page 425 - Thirdly, Whatever air or other elastic vapour is not condensed by the cold of the condenser, and may impede the working of the engine, is to be drawn out of the steam-vessels or condensers by means of pumps, wrought by the engines themselves, or otherwise.

Bibliographic information

Title

The Boy's Playbook of Science: Including the Various Manipulations and Arrangements of Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus Required for the Successful Performance of Scientific Experiments : in Illustration of the Elementary Branches of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy